|
 |
|
|
CAPO 2003 ‘Bash on the Beach’
Some time ago, our eloquent, wise & (POSSIBLY..?) infamous prez. told me that it’s quite often the case that the ‘smaller’ Powerlifting comps. can produce just as good results as a National Titles. It could best be described as timely to make mention of this most accurate of quotations, as the 2003 “Bash on the Beach” comp. proved just this point, as can be evidenced from the following. In February 2002, CAPO WA ran an informal ‘get together’
at Scarborough, right behind the ‘Observation City’ complex,
site of the 1988 IPF World Powerlifting Championships. A better location,
I believe, we could not have picked, as the weather/crowds/lifting/spectacle
was absolutely first class..! The competition that year was not sanctioned
by CAPO, so, therefore, records were not able to be set, however, all
that attended that sunny day were enthralled by the action. Andrew Huggins
won the Bench section U/100kg with a lift of 165kg @ 82.5 b’weight.
Evergreen Peter Phillips took out the O/100kg title, with a weight that
(unfortunately) escapes my memory at this time. In the interim, some of
the lifters who competed that day have gone on to bigger performances
in our sport, testament to the value of Novice/Improvement/Qualifying
competitions in general. Natalie Rundell, having celebrated her 16th birthday just one week prior was looking seriously at the vacant divisions in the Record Books, 82.5 b’weight, Single-Lift Bench & D’Lift. Despite having no previous competition experience, & a pre-comp. buildup that could be described as sporadic, Natalie opened cautiously with 65kg. It was nothing short of a joke, & with her pre-comp. nerves settling, further attempts on 70, 80 & a good 90kg all met with the judges approval. 100+kg would have gone, however, with all four squares on the scoresheet filled, Natalie watched & waited for her turn in the benchpress. Quite a remarkable performance, all things considered, helped along largely by a noisy family contingent. Big things in store for this young lady – watch carefully..!!!!
In 2002, following the WA State Powerlifting Titles, Danny Jones, along with Dad-in-Law, ‘Hercules’ Perryman became the first Powerlifters in Australian History to make the front page of a daily newspaper. Danny had broken several records in the O/45 82.5 division, & had been in training for the ‘Bash on the Beach’ comp. since then. A comfortable opener of 175kg made another new Oz Record for the day’s proceedings, & Danny sat out the rest of the Deadlifting in preparation for the Benchpress. With the imminent WPC World Titles only 9 months away, you can be sure both Danny & ‘Herc.’ will be back in the gym PRONTO..!!! Daniel Steenbhom, at 24 years & 91.2 b’weight was here purely
for the experience. Lifting out of a gym in Bull Creek, he was unlucky
to miss out on making the 90kg division. Undeterred, Daniel opened on
a ‘paperweight’ 185. Simple..! Attempts of 195, 200 &,
finally, 205 were all completed with consummate ease, despite some ‘hiccups’
with technique. Once pointed in the right direction, I’m willing
to bet there’s a 300+kg Deadlift there, as his strength is already
evident, & he’s one gutsy lifter..!!!!! Well done Daniel, &
we hope to see you back on stage in May, at the State Titles..!!! For those of us fortunate enough to have lifted at/witnessed/watched the video recording of the ’88 IPF World Titles, you’d have noticed a ‘giant’ among giants spotting & loading for the heavier Men’s sessions. This same bloke then went on to set numerous Open/Master’s National Records with Powerlifting Australia in the early ‘90’s, most notably a 335kg Dead., which was, until recently the biggest in their organization. Since that time, Henning Bach has been the subject of one serious injury after another, to the point where, by his own admission, he was ready to give the game away. I’d been speaking with him for some time prior to the ’03 ‘Bash on the Beach’, hoping he might consider a comeback, but, he’d been wary. Good thing he changed his mind……………. The scales we ordered for the comp. were rated to 150kg. Henning sent
the digital readout into orbit, so we’re guessing 155+kg..? Who
knows, as at nearly 7 feet in height, a more physically impressive specimen
you’d be unlikely to see on any particular Sunday on Scarborough
Beach..! I swear a good proportion of the pedestrians/bystanders had stopped
to ogle this ‘gentle giant’s’ stature, & they most
certainly weren’t disappointed..! A small intermission whilst the athletes warmed up for the Benchpress sent onlookers, including myself, looking skyward for the impending signs of a ferocious storm brewing. Knowing time was now not on our side, Henry pushed proceedings along as quickly as possible. Natalie Rundell followed her oh-so-easy Deadlifts with two attempts, the first on 45kg, followed by 50 for the conclusion to her day. Another Australian Age Single-lift Record for her, she then took time out to relax, & watch the other lifting. Congrat’s Nat – we’ll be watching out for you in the future..!! Eddie Smith & brother James Clarke-Smith are two names synonymous
with WA/Aussie Powerlifting. Eddie boasts an impressive array of State
Masters Records - James is a former State President, & a fine lifter
in his own right. Some time ago, cousin Eddie (go figure..?) decided to
enter our ‘Bash on the Beach’ comp. At 30 years of age, &
a considerable number of years training under his belt, Eddie weighed
in at 74.20kg the day before. He’d come down a fair way from his
usual training weight of approx. 80kg, so it was always going to be a
tough one for him. Pre-comp. talk of 135kg lifts weren’t realized,
with 117.5 okayed by the judges, but 125 turned down. I’m suggesting
a return to the 82.5 division, as this was Eddie’s first comp.,
& a solid 130+ bench will be his. A great first-timer’s effort,
Eddie..!!!!! Dave Kay went 90, 95, 100 then a miss at 105 to bring a conclusion to his day. Another Single-Lift Oz Record..!!!! Phew – was it ever going to stop..?!?!?! On a roll, Danny Jones went 70, 75 then 80 for - & you guessed it – ANOTHER Single-Lift Age Record..!!!! WOW…!!!! Peter Philips struck troubles with 150kg in his benchpress foray. Three
times for three failures didn’t deter him, & I’m sure
we’ll see 160+ at the next day out. He did, nevertheless, have a
‘smile on his dial’..!!!!! Thanks Pete..!!!!! I’ve left one lifter ‘til last – for bloody good reason. It’s not often an Australian ‘All-Time’ Record is broken, however, when it is, it most certainly deserves a special mention. The 56kg ‘All-Time’ Record was (‘til the 16th of Feb.) 120kg, by Peter Cryer of NSW, held since 22/05/88. That’s near on fifteen years, folks..!! An ‘unusual’ weight division, competitors have, to say the least, been ‘infrequent’ since the ‘80’s in this somewhat ‘light’ domain………….. In November of last year, at the Australian Benchpress Titles in Perth,
James Figueroa went 119kg @ 58.15 b’weight for a new Oz Open Single-Lift
Record – in his first ever comp.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It came, therefore,
as no surprise to me that he was ‘pumped’ for bigger &
better things. Pre-comp. discussions centered around lifts of 120ish,
to break Adrian Zalcman’s existing record. James weighed in at 55.55
the day previous, & was positive on the day of the comp. A 107.5 opener
shot up like nobody’s business, & 115 was a breeze. With a storm
upon us not dis-similar to a scene out of the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Twister’,
& four burley gentlemen holding down the gazebo to prevent it flapping
it’s way across to New Zealand, James mounted the stage for a shot
at super-stardom. With your author yelling just so James was able to hear(?)
me, 122.5kg paused on his chest, then blew up for the GREATEST EVER 56KG
BENCH IN AUSTRALIAN POWERLIFTING HISTORY..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The dust couldn’t have settled, as, by now, the storm was on top of us. Many hands make light work, as they say, so with plenty of speed, numerous devotees of the sport made quick work of packing away the gazebo, tables & chairs, weights & rubber underlay & all the other ‘paraphernalia’. We’d just finished when DOWN IT CAME……!!!!!!!!!!! Great timing to bring an end to a great competition..!!!! The usual list of thankyou’s……….
Great Stuff..!!!!!!
|
||
